It’s time for UN to address the very real abuses of power by Israeli Government
It must be clear to all but extremists that Benjamin Netanyahu is the leader of a regime which is the equal of, or even worse than, apartheid South Africa. The Israeli Government and, very sadly, the President of the USA, wants us to believe that the latest vast numbers of killings and wounded people are a retaliation for violence from Hamas terrorists.
If that were to be the case then we would be witnessing casualties of similar proportions on the Israeli side. Amongthedeadandwounded are children and people with disabilities. The only people who bear arms are the Israeli soldiers who have quite obvi- ously been told to be indiscriminate in their actions in the naive belief that they can subjugate and humiliate the Palestinians into submission. There will be a small number of extremists Hamas followers, but certainly not more than 1,500 of them.
From peaceful farming communities 70 years ago to the horrific life conditions experienced by Palestinians today, apparently described as an open prison by those who live there; it is time for the UN and individual nations to be active in addressing the real issues of abuse of power by the Israeli government. I think the only reason that we have not heard more headlines about the plight of the Palestinians has been that political leaders fear being branded antisemitic. This is not about antisemitism, it is about human rights and justice and an extreme right wing government bolstered by a right wing President of the USA.
A couple of years ago the Palestinian Youth Orchestra – or most of them, on account of the Israeli Government withholding the passports of some members – came, against all the odds, to perform movingly in Perth, Glasgow and elsewhere. For the sake of these and other young Palestinians, may there be some hope for a better future beyond the despair of today. And from a UK perspective, may our Government take a strong moral stance against this outrage and not, once again, comply with the wishes of President Trump in order to gain a trade deal post-brexit. ANDREW TURNBULL Bowerswell Lane, Perth I felt an overwhelming urge to wipe the self-satisfied smiles off of the faces of Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner as they gloated at the opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem. Their immaculately groomed, squeaky clean appearances highlighted the vast gulf between their lives and those of the Palestinian people. As they celebrated, 52 Palestinians were killed, and 1,200 wounded by Israeli gunfire, in a violent confrontation which was the inevitable result of Trump’s provocative decision to choose the anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba Day on which to open his new embassy. This day marks the displacement of Palestinians after the war in 1948.
Those who protest against this violence cannot simply be dismissed as being antiisrael. The Israeli human rights organisation B’tselem has condemned Israel’s use of live ammunition in Gaza, lamenting the “appalling indifference to human life”.
There are many reasonable voices in Israel speaking out against their own government’s treatment of the Palestinians, and these people have no motive other than a desire to see this injustice end.
Donald Trump has made a colossal mistake, just to satisfy his ego, and to stick a metaphorical two fingers up to his popular predecessor. Barack Obama has dignity, intelligence and the wisdom to know when to remain silent – all attributes sadly lacking in a man for whom positive affirmation from others is as vital as the air he breathes. CAROLYN TAYLOR Gagiebank, Wellbank Broughty Ferry, Dundee